Railway switch operating apparatus



1931- G. v. JEFFERSON ET AL 1,833,679

RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS Origixial Filed July 24.

1930 2 Sheets-Sheetv Illl INVENTORS.

G.V. Jffi c115 5.6, L It t/c,

ATTORNEY m 1 H w 0 uummfi fiw Nu QM \B m L MN Maw QR Nun Nov. 24, 1931. v. JEFFERSON ET AL 1,833,679

RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet G. V. Jfperon, E.C '.L1'tt/e TQM TTORNEY Patented Nov. 24, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE operating apparatus,

point out the GLEN v. JEFFERSON, or SWISSVALE, AND SYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS TO THE; UNION EDWIN e. LITTLE, or WILKINSIBURG, PENN- swrrcn & SIGNAL COMPANY, or SWISSVALE,

PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS Application filed July 24, 1930, Serial Our invention relates to railway switch and has for an object the provision of means for permitting manual operation of poweroperating apparatus of the type described and claimed in Letters Patent of the United States, N 0. 1,238,889, granted to- J. P. Coleman on September 4 1917, for railway traflic controlling apparatus.

We will describe one form of apparatus embodying our invention, and will then novel features thereof in claims. p

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view showing one form of apparatus embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in F ig. 1 with the covers for the casing removed to illustrate the construction. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 taken substantially on the line IIIIII of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the apparatus. shown in Fig. 2 taken substantially on the line IV-IV of Fig. 2. 7 Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the several views. I

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, the switch operating apparatus embodying our invention is hereshown as enclosed in a casing A made up of three castings .1, 2 and 3 held together by bolts 4 and 5. Secured to the underside of the casing A by means of bolts 6 and 7 extending. downwardly through suitable holes in the castings 1 and2, respectively, as best seen in Fig. 1, are two plates 8 and 9 provided with holes 10 through which lag screwsor other fastening devices may be passed for securing the casing to a suitable support, such as the ties of a railway track. Casting 2 is formed with two compartments 2*. and 2 compartment 2 being closed by a removal cover 11,'and compartment 2", being closed by a removable cover 12.

As best seen in Fig. 3, the casting 1 is at theirinner ends with the compartment 2 'tively admitted to the No. 470,370. Renewed May 5, 1931.

mg engagement with the opposite sides of a gear wheel 18. The gear wheel 18 is secured to a vertically extending jackshaft 19, the lower endofwhich is journaled in a bearing 20 formed in the casting 2 as best seen in Fig. 1, and the upper end of which is journaled in a bearing 21 formed in a plate 22 attached to the casting 2. A crank 23 is provided on the lower end of the shaft 19, and this crank carries a roller 24 which cooperates with a suitable slot 25 extending transversely across the top of a switch operating rod 26, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The

rod 26 is slidably mounted in the lower part of the casting 2, and is'adapted to be connected at its outer end with the movable rails of a track switch or other governing device not shown in the drawings.

Fluid pressure is admitted to the interior of the cylinders 13 ,13 through ports 27*, 27 which are provided in the cylinder heads 14 14", and whichcommunicate with pipes 28, 28" through valves 29, 29 as best seen in Figs. 1 and 3. When the valves occupy the positions shown in Fig. 1, communication is established between the pipes 28, 28 and the interiors of the cylinders, but when they are rotated from the positions shown through a sufficient angle in a counterclockwise direction, the'cylinders are disconnected During thenormal operation of the apparatus, the valves 29 29 occupy their open positions in which they are illustrated in Fig. 2, and fluid pressure from the source is seleccylinders 13*, 13 through suitable valves (not shown) provided in the pipes 28% 28 The pistons 16*, 16 are so arranged in the cylinders that when one pistonis at the end of its stroke in one direction, the other piston will be at the end of its stroke in the other d rection. It will be apparent, therefore,

that if fluid pressure is admitted to cylinder I Shown in the drawings.

' The pistons 16%,16 'are 2.3.0

13 when the parts are in the positions in which they are illustrated in Fig. 2, piston 16 will move rack bar 17 toward the right, thereby rotatinggear wheel .18 in a clockwise :direction, andhence moving rack bar 17 and piston 16 toward the left. Similarly, if fluid pressure is admitted to cylinder 13-,-when theparts are in the "last named positions," piston 16 will -move rack bar -17 toward the right, thereby rotating gear wheel 18 in a counter-clockwisedirection, andhence moving rack bar 1'7 and piston '16 toward the left. It follows,..that.the gear wheel and jackshaft can be given either a counterclockwise or clockwise motion'loy admitting ifluid :PIQSSUIGALO the proper cylinder 1 13 ;or

counterclockwise direction, the switch operatingrod is moved downwardly RSIVlBVWBd in :Figsfl and .3 by lthezroller '24 on crank 23 ;and,.conversely,when theshaft'is rotated in 'theopposite direction, the switch operating zrodismovedupwardly by the roller 24.

.21')ipes;28 :and- 28 selectively for the control of-the apparatus by: any suitable'means not formed with centrallyqdisposed outwardly extending plung- --ers:31}, 3l 'adapted-zto enter axially disposed cylindiicalboresi-32, 32* provided inthe cylinderfheads 14%, 14?, as the pistons approach the limits of t'heirsstrokes. The bores 32 32" communicate directly with'the inlet passagesz27 27 and it :will'be.apparent,therezfore, that:as-soon as ;the.end of a plunger xentersthe corresponding bore, the fluid which remains in the cylinder betweenithe piston :and :the cylinder head :is'trapped in the cylinder. ASifiIQSlllt, during the remainder-of thestroke of the piston this trapped air'becomes compressed, thereby'cushioning the ac- 'tion of'the entire apparatus.

a .Theright handzend of the :rack bars 17 17", that is to say, thecnds opposite-to the pistons 16216 are provided with cylindrical guides 33%, 33" which .are slidably mounted iii-cylindrical guideways 34%, 34 formed in the lower :partofthecasingiQ. The right "hand ends oftherackbars are also provided with:loc l :ing=dogs35'=?, 35 whiche'xtendinto the casting '3 through suitable openings 36*, -36l, andcooperate with suitable apparatus for locking the switch. This locking appa- .I'Zl'll-US forms 'nOJpart 'of our invention, and

is desc'riloedv in detail in Zthecopending applicationfor "Letters Patent off the United States,iSerial .No. 412,078, filed by J. P. Coleman on December fi, 1929, forirailway'traliic control apparatus.

- The-switch operatingapparatusalso comprisesthe usualcircuit controller B actuated by-fbell -cranks37'and 38 and links 39 and 40 for controlling signals orother traifio governfrFluid pressure may be1supplied to the- -switch manually and independently of the fluid pressure mechanism. At suchtimes, it is desirable "to disconnect the cylinders 13,

13 "from thepipes 28, 28 'toj'insure'that the fluid pressure mechanism will not be operated during thismanual operation and result in possible injury to the operator. lVith apparatus embodying-ourinvention, one form of which we will now describe, it is impossible to actuate the switch manually as long asthe 7 cylinders are in communication with :the 18?. NVhen the jackshaft is rotated in pipes'28 28 and, conversely, it is impossible i" is in condition'tobe operated manually.

'Thisapparatus, as here shown, comprises a horizontally disposed'square shaft 41 located in-the'upper part of the compartment 2* of the casting 2, and provided with bushings 42 and-43 which are journa'led in suitable bear- "ings 44 and 45 formed inthe side walls of'the casting-"2 as bestseen in F ig. 4. One endof the shaft 41 is rigidly attached to a hand lever "Mounted for rotation coaXially with the clutch 'D carried bytheshaft. V

Asbest seen in Fig. 4, the'clutchD in the form here shown comprises a cylindrical sleeve 49 which receives the shaft 41 with enough clearanceto permit free horizontal movement of the sleeve/toward and away from-thegear wheel 48. A clutch jaw 51 is screwedontothis sleeve at the end which is next to the gear wheel 48, and a collar 7 4 provided witha shoulder 52 is screwed onto he other-end of-this. sleeve. The j aw-51and collar .74*are provided with square holes which receive shaft'41 and so'prevent rotation of th ese elements on the shaft. The

shoulder 52 acts" as a stop for a loose collar 54 which is constantly urged toward the collar74by meansofacoil .spring55 interposed'betwee'n the clutch jaw 51 and the collar 54.

The clutch aw 51'is formed with teeth 56 (see Figs. 2 and 4) which cooperate with teeth 57 provided on the adjacent face of the -46 andthe other end of'the'shaft is provided with a collar-'58 which preventslongituclinal displacementofthe shaft. r

gear wheel 48 (see Fig. 1). These two sets'of teeth are preferably made "with irregular spacing as shown in Fig. 1, so that when the and has one arm 58 "clutch'jaw is moved toward the gear wheel,

in a manner presently to be described, the

'teeth on the clutch will mesh with the teeth on the gear wheel and connect the gear wheel with the shaft 41 if and only if the hand lever 46 occupies a position which correspon'ds to the position of the switch. That is tosay, if the switch is in the normal position, the teeth on the clutch will mesh with the teeth on the gear wheel only if the hand lever occupies its normal position in which it is illustrated in the drawings and, conversely, if the switch is in its reverse position, the teeth on the clutch will mesh with the teeth onlthe gear wheel only if the hand lever 46 is rotated from the position shown through an angle approximately 180 to its reverse or dotted line position. V

The *clutch is moved toward and away from the gear wheel 48, in order to effect the desired driving connection between the gear wheelandthe manually operated shaft 41, by means of a bell crank lever 58. This lever is pivotally mounted on a vertical pin 59 supported by two inwardly extending vertically spaced lugs 69 formed on the side wall of the casting 2, as best seen in Fig. 2, thereof provided with two rollers 67 and 68 which cooperate with the opposing faces of two circumferential flanges 6O and-61 formed on the fixed collar 74 and loose collar 54, respectively. The other arm 58 0f the lever 58 is pivotally attached to one end of a rod 62 which is slidably mounted in a suitable bearing 63 screwed through the casting 2. The

outer end of the rod 62, in turn, is operatively connected by means of a substantially L- shaped link 73 with a member 64 which is formed with sockets at each side for engagement with the square confronting ends 65 65 of the valves 29, 29

and which is pro vided with a handle 66 to facilitate'manual operation of this member.

The operation of the apparatus as a whole is as follows: When the member 64 occupies its normal position in which it is shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the Valves'29 ,-29 occupy the positions in which the cylinders 13 18 are connected with the pipes 28*, 28", and the clutch D is held out of engagement with the gear wheel 48 by means of the rollers 67 and 68 on the bell crank lever 58 engaging the flange 60 on the collar 74. Under these conditions, the fluid pressure mechanism may be' operated to cause a reversal of the switch in the manner previouslydescribed, and the "only effect of this operation on the mechanism formanually operating the switch-will;

. be rotation of the gear wheel 48 about the cylindrical bushing 47 on which it is journaled. If, however, the member 64 is rotated V in a counter-clockwise direction from 1ts normal position through an angle of approximately 100 to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1, the valves 28, 29 will be rotated to the positions in which the cylinders 13, 13" are disconnected from the pipes 28*, 28 and are connected with the vent plugs 30, 30 and at the same time, the link 73 and rod. 62 will be moved toward the left as viewed in Fig. 1 so that the bell crank lever 58 will be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction. WVhen the lever 58 is rotated in this direction, the rollers 67 and 68 carried thereby engage the flange 61 on the movable collar 54 and forcethis collar upwardly as viewed in Fig. 2, thereby moving the clutch D toward the gear wheel 48 by virtue of the force which is transmitted through the spring 55. If the switch and hand lever 46 then occupy corresponding relative positions, the clutch jaw teeth 56 will mesh with the teeth 57 on the gear wheel 48 as described hereinbefore but, if the switch and hand lever 46 do not occupy corresponding relative positions, the flat ends of the two sets of teeth will move into contact with each other and the spring 55 will become compressed, so that if the hand lever is subsequently moved to the position which corresponds to the position of the switch, the two sets of teeth will immediately mesh. hen the clutch is operatively connected with the gear wheel, operation of the hand lever 46 will rotate the gear wheel 48 which, in turn, will actuate the rack bar 17 to operate the gear wheel 18 and crank 23. It will be apparent, therefore that under these latter conditions operation of the switch by the fluid pressure mechanism is prevented, while operation by the hand lever 46 is permitted.

When it is desired to condition the apparatus for subsequent operation by the fluid pressure mechanism, the member 64 is relever 58 is thereby rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2, to the position shown, so that the clutch is moved out of engagement with the gear wheel 48 by engagement of the rollers 67 and 68 with the flange 60 on the collar 74, and the valves are restored to the positions in which communication is established betwen the cylinders 13, 13" and the pipes 28 and 28 lVhen the member 64 has been restored to its normal position, it may be locked in this position by inserting a padlock or other suitable fastening device through an eye 70 in :1 lug 71 formed on the member 63, which lug extends upwardly through a suitable slot 72 in the member 64.

Although we have herein shown and described only one form of railway switch operating apparatus embodying our invention,

- V movable member,

the supplyoffluid pressure to said fluid pres- "$25 comprising Tbeoperatively conected with the switch, flu1d pressure means for at times actuating said member by said clutch.

parting i-friom'the spirit and :scope .of :our invention.

'fHavingthus described our invention, what weclaim is 1'1. Railway switch operating apparatus a movable member adapted to movable member, a hand lever, means including a .clutchfor at times connecting said :hand :lever with said movable member, and manually operable means for controlling said clutch and the supply of fluid pressure to said fluid pressure means jointly in, such manner that the supply of fluid pressure to said fluid pressure means is cut o'fl when said hand lever is connected with said movable 2. vRailway switch operating apparatus comprising a movable member adapted to be operatively connected with the switch, fluid :pressure means for at times actuating said a valve for controlling sure means, a hand lever, means including a clutch for attimes connecting said hand lever with said movable member, and manually operable means for controlling said valve and said clutch jointly in such manner that said valveis operated'to cut off thesupply of fluid pressure to said fluid pressure means when "saidhand lever is connected with said movable-member by said clutch. '3. Railway switch operating apparatus comprisingra movable member adapted tobe operatively connected with the switch, fluid pressure'means for at times actuating said movable member, a manually controlled c'lu'tch, other means for actuating said movable memberadapted to be at times connected withsaid member by means of said clutch, vand means for interrupting the supply of fluid pressure to said fluid pressure-means when-saidother means isconnected with said movable member by means of said clutch.

4. Railway switch operating apparatus comprising a movable member adapted to be operatively connected with the switch, fluid pressure means for at times actuating saidlmember, avalvefor controlling the supply of fluid pressure to said fluid pressure ,means, arclutch, other means vfor actuating said member arranged to be co nnected with said movable member by means of said clutch, and means for controlling said valve and :said clutch jointly in such manner that when said valve is operated to the position for supplying fluidpressure to said fluid pressure means said other means is disconnected 'from said movable member.

5 Railway switch operating apparatus comprisinga rac'k'bar adapted to be operatively :connected with the switch, fluid presisure-imeans for actuating isaid rack bar, a

gear wheel meshing with said .rack bar, a

anesaeae :0l1lt0l1, :means for rotating said gear Wheel adapted to be connected with said gear wheel by said clutch, and means for cutting oif the supply of fluid pressure to said fluid pressure means when said means for rotating said gear wheel is connected with said'gear wheel by said clutch.

GKRailway switch operating apparatus comprising a rack bar adapted to be operatively connected with the switch, power operated means for actuating saidrack bar, a gear wheel meshing wlth said rack bar, amanually operable lever, a clutch for-connecting said gear wheel with said lever, and means for controlling said clutch and the supply of power to said power operated means jointly in such manner that when said gear wheel is connected with said lever bymeans of said clutch the supply of powertosaid power operated means is automatically cut ofl.

7. Railway switch operating apparatus comprising airack bar adapted to 'be operatively, connected with the switch, fluid' lpressure means for actuating said track bar, a valve for controlling the vsupply of fluid pressure to said fluid pressure means, aegear wheel meshing with said rack bar, a manually operable lever, a clutch for connecting said gear wheel with said lever, and manually operable means "for controlling said valve and said clutch simultaneously in such manner that when said gear wheel is connected with said manually operable lever said valve is operated to a position in which the supply of fluid pressure to said fluidpressure means iscutofl.

8. Railway switch operating apparatus comprising a movable member adapted to be operatively connected with the switch,

off. I

9. Railway switch operating apparatus comprising a rack bar adapted to be operatively connected with the switch, fluid pressure means for actuating said rack bar, a valve for controlling the supply of ,fluid pressure to said fluid pressure means, a'

square shaft, a handlever for oscillating said 7 shaft, a gear wheel mounted for rotation coaXially with said shaft and meshing with said rack bar; a clutch mounted on said shaft and comprising a sleeve provided with a square hole which receives said shaft with sufficient clearance to permit sliding move-- ment of said sleeve toward and away from said gear wheel, a clutch jaw attached to one end of said sleeve, a collar fixed to the other end of said sleeve and provided with a circumferential flange and with a shoulder at its inner end,a loose collar on said sleeve prov vided with a clrcumferentlal flange which confronts the flange on said fixed collar, and a spring on said sleeve between said loose collar and said clutch jaw for biasing said loose collar toward the shoulder on said fixed collar; a pivoted bell crank lever for moving said clutch toward and away from said gear wheel, said bell crank lever having one arm provided with two rollers which cooperate with the flanges of said fixed and loose col- ;lars respectively, a slidably supported rod having one end pivoted to the other arm of said bell crank lever, a link pivotally attached at one end to the free end of said rod,

' a member attached to said valve in such manner that rotation of said member operates saidvalve, said member being pivotally attached to the free end of said link, the parts being so proportioned that when said memher is rotated to the position in which said valve admits fluid pressure to said fluid pressure means said bell crank lever is rotated to a position in which said clutch is held out of engagement with said gear wheel by means i of said rollersengaging the flange on said fixed collar, but that if said member is rotated'to the position in which said valve cuts off the supply of fluid pressure to said cylinder saidbell crank lever is rotated to the position in which the rollers carried thereby engage the flange on said loose collar and moves said clutch to the position in which. said clutch jaw engages said gear wheel, said clutch jaw and said gear. wheel being provided with teeth which mesh when and only when said clutch and said gear wheel occupy a predetermined angular position withrespect to each other.

' 10. Railway switch operating apparatus comprising a rotatable shaft adapted to be operatively connected with the switch, a

. rack bar, a first gear wheel fixed to said shaft and constantly-meshing with said rack bar,

7 a second gear wheel constantly meshing with said rack bar, a manually operable lever, clutch mechanism for at times connecting said lever with said second gear wheel, manually operable means for operating said clutch mechanism, and power means for at times actuating said rack bar.

' 11. Railway switch operating apparatus comprising a rotatable shaft adapted to be operatively connected with the switch, a rack bar, a first gear wheel fixed to said shaft and meshing with said rack bar, a second gear wheel constantly meshing with said rack bar, a manually operable lever, manually operable means for at times connecting said lever with said second gear wheel to permit operation of said shaft by said lever, and power means for. at other times actuati g said rack bar to cause operation of said shaft.

12. Railway switch operating apparatus comprising a rotatable shaft adapted to be operatively connected with the switch, a fluid pressure motor comprising a cylinder containing a reciprocable piston, a rack bar attached to said piston, a first gear wheel fixed to said shaft and meshing with said rack bar, a second gear wheel constantly meshing with said rack bar, a manually operable lever, and means for at times connecting said lever with said second gear wheel.

13. Railway switch operating apparatus comprising a rotatable shaft adapted to be operatively connected with the switch, a fluid pressure motor comprising a cylinder containing a reciprocable piston, a rack bar attached to said piston, a first gear wheel fixed to said shaft and meshing with said rack bar, a second gear wheel constantly meshing with said rack bar, a manually operable lever, and manually operable means for at times connecting said lever with said second gear wheel.

14. Railway switch operating apparatus comprising a rotatable shaft adapted to be operatively connected with the switch, a rack bar, a first gear wheel fixed to said shaft and meshing :with said rack bar, a second gear wheel meshing with said rack bar, a manually operable lever, manually controlled clutch mechanism effective for connecting said lever with said second gear wheel if and wheel meshing with said rack bar, a clutch, a

manually operable lever arranged to be con nected-with said second gear wheel by means of said clutch if and only if said lever and said second gear wheel occupy one relative position, manually operable means for controlling said clutch, and power means for at times operating said rack bar.

16. Railway switch operating apparatus comprising a rotatable shaft adapted to be operatively connected with the switch, a rack bar, a first gear wheel secured to said shaft and meshing with said rack bar, a second gear wheel meshing with said rack bar, a clutch, a manually operable lever arranged to be connected with said second gear wheel by means of said clutch if and only if said lever and said second gear wheel occupy one relative position, manually operable means for controlling said clutch, and power means effective for operating said rack bar when and onl-yiwhensaid lever'is disconnected from said second gearwheel.

rl 'ZQRailway switch operating apparatus comprising a rotatable shaft adapted to be operatively'connected with the switch, a rack bar-, power:means for at times actuating-said rack bar, a first gear wheel fixed to said I rotatable shaft'and' 'm eshingwith said rack bar, 'a-manually operable shaft,a second gear wheel :mounted for rotation coaxially with said manually operable shaft and meshing with-said rack bar, clutchmechanism'on said manually operableshaft for at times connecting said second gearwheel with said manual- 7 1y operable shaft, manually operable means for controlling said clutch mechanism, and power means'for attimes actuating said [rack bar, 3 7 1- 18. Railway switch operating apparatus comprising airack bar adapted to beopera-V tively connected with the switch, power means for at times actuating saidrac'k bar, a square shaft, a handlever for oscillating said shaft, afirst gear wheel mounted for rotationcoaxially with said shaft and meshing with said rack bar; a clutch mountedon said'shaft and comprising a sleeve provided with a 'hole whichreceivessaid shaft with sufficient clearanceztoapermit sliding movement of'said sleeve towardand'away from said gear wheel, a clutch jaw-attached to one endof saidsleeve and constrained to rotate with said shaft, a collar fixed .to the other end of said sleeve and provided with'a circumferential flange and-with a shoulder at its "inner end, a loose collarzonsaidsleeve provided with acircum- V ferential flange which confronts the flange on said fixed collar, and aspring onjsaid sleeve betweensaidloose collar and said clutch jaw. for biasing said loose 'collartoward the shoulder on said fi-Xed'collar; apivoted bell crank lever for moving said clutch toward and away natures. I

from said gear wheel, said bellcrank lever having'one arm provided with two rollers which cooperate with the flanges of said fixed and loose collars respectively, and manually operable'mean's attached-to the other end of said bellcrank lever for operating said bell crank-o 'lever, said clutchjaw and saidgear wheel beingrprovided with teeth which mesh when and only when said clutch and said gear wheel occupy a predetermined angular posi-r tion with respect to each other. I

testimony whereof we afiix our sig- AGLEN v. JEFFERsoN. TEDW-IN e. "LITTLE. 

